Vacuum dust extraction apparatus for a percussive air tool

Abstract

A vacuum dust extraction system includes a snorkel coupled to the implement end of an air tool, a dust bellows surrounding the air tool's implement and fastened to the outboard end of the snorkel, a pneumatically powered water filtration industrial vacuum, and a suction hose coupling the snorkel to the vacuum. The apparatus features an improved coupling arrangement for attaching the snorkel to the barrel of the tool driver that permits the apparatus to work with a wide assortment of air tools.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. Vacuum dust extraction apparatus for an air tool that percussively drives an implement, said air tool having a barrel, and a retainer mounted on said barrel to retain an inboard end of said implement within said barrel, said vacuum dust extraction system comprising:
 an air tool adapter mounted on said air tool, said air tool adapter having an outboard cylindrical sleeve surrounding an exposed portion of said implement; 
 a tubular coupler having an inboard end removably joined to said outboard cylindrical sleeve of said air tool adapter; 
 a snorkel for collecting dust produced when the implement percussively impacts a workpiece, said snorkel surrounding said implement, with a cylindrical sleeve at an inboard end thereof removably joined to an outboard end of said tubular coupler, and a sidewall in which is formed an outlet pipe; 
 a bellows affixed to an outboard end of said snorkel, and surrounding said implement outboard of said snorkel; and 
 an industrial vacuum coupled to said outlet pipe of said snorkel by a suction hose to create a vacuum that draws dust created by said implement through said bellows, snorkel and suction hose, and into said industrial vacuum. 
 
     
     
       2. The vacuum dust extraction apparatus of  claim 1 , where:
 said air tool adapter is a clamshell that encases said retainer. 
 
     
     
       3. The vacuum dust extraction apparatus of  claim 2 , where said clamshell comprises:
 upper and lower adapter halves oppositely positioned about said retainer, and joined to encase said retainer. 
 
     
     
       4. The vacuum dust extraction apparatus of  claim 3 , where:
 exterior peripheries of said upper and lower adapter halves are provided with spaced and axially aligned circumferential grooves, and 
 rubber rings seated in said circumferential grooves to mutually secure said upper and lower adapter halves when they are joined to encase said retainer. 
 
     
     
       5. The vacuum dust extraction apparatus of  claim 3 , where:
 said upper and lower adapter halves include sleeve portions that extend outboard of said retainer to form said outboard cylindrical sleeve; and 
 said tubular coupler axially overlaps said outboard cylindrical sleeve. 
 
     
     
       6. The vacuum dust extraction apparatus of  claim 5 , where:
 said sleeve portions of said upper and lower adapter halves include circumferential grooves on their exterior peripheries; and 
 a retainer spring seated in said circumferential grooves between said tubular coupler and said outboard cylindrical sleeve removably joins said tubular coupler to said outboard cylindrical sleeve. 
 
     
     
       7. The vacuum dust extraction apparatus of  claim 1 , where:
 said outboard cylindrical sleeve of said air tool adapter includes a circumferential groove on its exterior periphery; 
 said inboard end of said tubular coupler axially overlaps said outboard cylindrical sleeve; and 
 a retainer spring seated in said circumferential groove between said tubular coupler and said outboard cylindrical sleeve retains said tubular coupler on said air tool adapter. 
 
     
     
       8. The vacuum dust extraction apparatus of  claim 1 , where:
 said outboard end of said tubular coupler axially overlaps said inboard end of said snorkel; and 
 an O-ring seated between said tubular coupler and said inboard end of said snorkel resiliently retains said tubular coupler on said snorkel. 
 
     
     
       9. The vacuum dust extraction apparatus of  claim 1 , where:
 said outboard cylindrical sleeve of said air tool adapter is a sleeve extension on an outboard end said retainer, said sleeve extension having a circumferential groove on its exterior periphery; 
 said inboard end of said tubular coupler axially overlaps said sleeve extension; and 
 a retainer spring disposed in said circumferential groove between said tubular coupler and said sleeve extension retains said tubular coupler on said air tool adapter. 
 
     
     
       10. The vacuum dust extraction apparatus of  claim 1 , where:
 said air tool adapter is a component housed within said retainer, and said outboard cylindrical sleeve is a sleeve portion of said air tool adapter that protrudes through an opening in an outboard end of said retainer, said sleeve portion having a circumferential groove on its exterior periphery; 
 said inboard end of said tubular coupler axially overlaps said sleeve portion; and 
 a retainer spring disposed in said circumferential groove between said tubular coupler and said sleeve portion retains said tubular coupler on said air tool adapter.